The Value of the English Major Today
This essay explores the value of the undergraduate English major today in terms of the knowledge and skills it develops, graduate school and employment opportunities it provides, and self-actualization and social improvement it fosters. From the perspective of an English department chair, this essay...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Humanities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/9/3/77 |
| _version_ | 1797560055521869824 |
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| author | Jane Beal |
| author_facet | Jane Beal |
| author_sort | Jane Beal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This essay explores the value of the undergraduate English major today in terms of the knowledge and skills it develops, graduate school and employment opportunities it provides, and self-actualization and social improvement it fosters. From the perspective of an English department chair, this essay stresses both the tangible and intangible benefits of the study of literature and writing, and it does so as a defense against those that seek to cut funding or devolve English departments. With reference to data from both a small, private, liberal arts college in southern California and national sources to give context, the essay shows how the English major is not only perennially valuable, but particularly valuable today in the midst of the world-wide coronavirus pandemic and the protests that aim to arrest police brutality against African Americans and their communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:54:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9362de1c13a84079b448173302664cd3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:54:00Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities |
| spelling | doaj.art-9362de1c13a84079b448173302664cd32023-11-20T09:14:50ZengMDPI AGHumanities2076-07872020-08-01937710.3390/h9030077The Value of the English Major TodayJane Beal0English Department, University of La Verne, La Verne, CA 91750, USAThis essay explores the value of the undergraduate English major today in terms of the knowledge and skills it develops, graduate school and employment opportunities it provides, and self-actualization and social improvement it fosters. From the perspective of an English department chair, this essay stresses both the tangible and intangible benefits of the study of literature and writing, and it does so as a defense against those that seek to cut funding or devolve English departments. With reference to data from both a small, private, liberal arts college in southern California and national sources to give context, the essay shows how the English major is not only perennially valuable, but particularly valuable today in the midst of the world-wide coronavirus pandemic and the protests that aim to arrest police brutality against African Americans and their communities.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/9/3/77English majorlearning outcomesknowledgeskillsgraduate schoolemployment |
| spellingShingle | Jane Beal The Value of the English Major Today Humanities English major learning outcomes knowledge skills graduate school employment |
| title | The Value of the English Major Today |
| title_full | The Value of the English Major Today |
| title_fullStr | The Value of the English Major Today |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Value of the English Major Today |
| title_short | The Value of the English Major Today |
| title_sort | value of the english major today |
| topic | English major learning outcomes knowledge skills graduate school employment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/9/3/77 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT janebeal thevalueoftheenglishmajortoday AT janebeal valueoftheenglishmajortoday |